A quiet Sunday lunch at the Yellow Deli in downtown Vista turned surreal when a bat dropped onto a dining table on July 19 and later tested positive for rabies, according to San Diego County public health officials. The county is now racing to identify anyone who may have touched the animal so people and pets can get rapid evaluation and treatment if needed.
County alert
Per SD County HHSA, the bat flew onto a table where a family was eating at about 1 PM. Another diner stepped in, using a towel to scoop up the animal and take it to the San Diego Humane Society’s Oceanside campus. Testing later confirmed the bat was rabid. Public health officials are now asking anyone who handled or touched the bat to come forward so they can be evaluated for possible exposure.
County public health officials looking for anyone who may have come into contact with a bat Sunday, July 19 at the Yellow Deli Restaurant in Vista. The bat landed on a table while a family was eating at 1 p.m. Another diner used a towel to collect the bat and bring it to the… pic.twitter.com/NzKdaGndp4
— SD HHSA (@SDCountyHHSA) July 23, 2026
Medical guidance
Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, but it is preventable if treated before symptoms appear. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for someone who has not been previously vaccinated typically includes thorough washing of any wounds, a dose of human rabies immune globulin, and a multi-dose rabies vaccine series. Anyone who thinks they may have been exposed is urged to contact a healthcare provider right away for a risk assessment.
How to get help in San Diego County
Per the County of San Diego, anyone who touched the bat, helped clean it up, or may have been unable to tell whether they were bitten should call the County Epidemiology Unit at 619-692-8499 for guidance and possible PEP. The county also reminds pet owners to keep rabies vaccinations up to date and to report animal bites to local animal control so animals can be evaluated. When animals are submitted for testing, the San Diego County Public Health Laboratory conducts the rabies tests.
Why this matters locally
Rabid bats have already turned up elsewhere in the county this year, and public health teams routinely work to identify contacts after positive tests. A recent rabid bat scare in Escondido triggered a similar response after two infected bats were recovered in March. San Diego Humane Society and wildlife partners continue to urge residents not to handle bats and to contact animal control or Project Wildlife for help with grounded or injured animals.
If you were at the Yellow Deli on Sunday and saw or touched the bat, officials say to wash any exposed skin with soap and water and call your doctor or the County Epidemiology Unit for next steps. More information on exposures, animal testing, and pet precautions is available from the County of San Diego and the CDC.
